BYD Sealion 6 vs GWM Haval Jolion

What's the difference?

So, should Toyota, Tesla, Hyundai and others be worried about the arrival of the Sealion 6 and BYD’s new DMi powertrains? Yes, but not because it represents any major breakthrough in technology or dynamic prowess. 

Instead, the strength of the Sealion 6 is how average it is. It may not be the obvious class-leader in any particular area, but it does a good job in almost every measurable aspect and doesn’t possess any major flaws.

Yes, there are still questions about the long-term dependability of BYDs but that’s a risk any new owner will need to accept. But the very sharp pricing should tempt plenty of buyers to take that chance and continue BYD’s steady upwards trajectory in the Australian market.

The GWM Haval Jolion Lux offers affordability in a modern, attractive package. However, the execution of some of its features isn’t always convincing. So yes, it’s sharply priced but it also feels underdone in some respects which doesn’t necessarily equate to value. But if affordability is at the top of your priority list and one or two shortcomings doesn't mean the end of the world, this could be the urban SUV you're looking for.

This is one area where BYD has a mixed record. Not to be unkind or create an international incident, but the Chinese car industry has a history of not being totally original with all of its automotive designs.

However, things are improving and the Sealion 6 is a good example of the Chinese industry learning to develop its own style. While there are some subtle hints from European models, overall it’s a smart-looking mid-size SUV with some character to it - rather than being a bland imitation of something else.

One area where the Sealion is a cut above its competition is its size, being longer than and wider than the RAV4, Mitsubishi Outlander and Nissan X-Trail.

The Jolion is now longer and wider than it's rivals at 4472mm long, and 1874mm wide. The next largest 'small' SUV is the Kia Seltos at 4385mm long and 1800mm wide which does the Jolion a whole lot of favours for internal passenger space and kerb-side appeal.

The Jolion looks substantial and well-shaped, with enough bells and whistles in the design to keep it fresh; like the swoopy LED DRLs at the front and a curvy behind that’s accentuated by a black spoiler.

The interior has interesting features, like the rotary-dial gear selector, push-button starter and minimalist button panel that sits below the large technology screen.

The dashboard juts out into the cabin and the low-key design is too pared back for my taste. But the cabin looks nice and new with lots of tactile accent panels and shiny screens.

There is still too much plasticky-looking styling to elevate it properly, but for its grade level this is almost luxurious.

That external size translates to a roomy cabin, which also has some flair to the design but thankfully a bit more restrained than the smaller Atto 3 - which is a bit over-the-top in this reviewer’s opinion. 

The element that sticks out immediately is the large central touchscreen which, like other models in the range, can rotate either vertical or horizontal, depending on your preference.

I don’t understand the point of this, because when rotated vertically it impacts your forward vision and can interfere with the air conditioning vents; and I can’t even see it with my polarised sunglasses.

It simply makes more sense horizontally, but I guess all carmakers are looking for catchy gimmicks these days. But while it may seem like a cool party trick it remains somewhat confusing to me, like one more thing to go wrong. But maybe I’m just getting old and grumpy.

What I do like and think is a great idea is double smartphone charging pads in the centre console. And overall the design of the cabin feels well thought out and has plenty of useful storage areas.

The seats are fine, a little flat and the fixed headrests are irritating, but overall they’re soft and supportive enough.

The key in the second row seating is the amount of space, with the extra length of the Sealion 6 compared to its rivals showing up with more knee room in the back for families with growing teenagers or those who need to carry their adult friends.

There’s also a pair of USB ports in the back too, so everyone can keep their electronics charged.

The boot is a good size, measuring 425 litres on paper, and has a nice long and wide floor. But some of that space is thanks to the lack of a spare - so that counts against it in my book.

It's a running theme but the practicality of the Jolion doesn't always land. However, what it does well, it does very well.

Take the access and space for passengers. Both rows offer class-leading head- and legroom for its occupants, even middle seaters should be happy considering the transmission tunnel isn't tall.

Despite the manual passenger seat being set too high and both seats lacking lumbar support, front seaters still enjoy the most comfort. The heated front seats are also a pleasant surprise for the grade level, although their function is buried deep within the multimedia system and I mostly forgot about them.

The rear seat is fairly hard and doesn't offer much side bolstering, although the middle armrest helps to secure outer passengers in corners.

Storage is solid throughout the cabin with a reasonably sized glove box that can hold a thick manual, middle console and dedicated phone shelf, as well as a second phone 'slot'.

There is a sunglasses holder (sunnies rattle when stored, though) and a cubby underneath the centre console that can hold a small handbag but anything stored might interfere with the USB ports housed there.

There are two cupholders up front but you can't fit two cups side by side. Two cupholders, a couple of map pockets and storage bins finish up the storage in the back seat.

The boot capacity sits at 337 litres and while large enough for a good grocery haul it falls on the lower end for the class. By comparison, the Kia Seltos offers 433L.

Now, on to what the Jolion doesn't do all that well. It's new 10.25-inch multimedia screen and 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster look the part - all shiny and new-looking - but their usability falls somewhat short.

The media touchscreen is responsive but a punish to use on the go as most functions, including climate control, are accessed via the screen. A few dedicated buttons would be welcome, so changing bits on the road doesn't leave you flustered.

The digital instrument cluster isn't customisable and is set to a dark display screen with a typeface that looks blurry on some key displays, especially the speedometer.

There is a rather large and in-your-face driver monitoring camera installed on the A-pillar which feels too much like you're under surveillance while driving (not a fan, clearly).

Charging options include four USB-A ports and a 12-volt socket but that's it and it would be good to see a newer, faster USB-C port somewhere in the car.

A feature the Jolion does get right is the wired Apple CarPlay as it maintains a steady connection and is very quick to set up. The Lux also has wired Android Auto.

You don't get a powered tailgate and you might miss it as the boot lid is fairly heavy.

The Jolion line-up consists of six variants and the model on test here is the Lux, which sits second-from-the-bottom.

Its $29,990, drive-away, price tag positions it as one of the more expensive options compared to its nearest rivals with the MG ZS Excite the most affordable at $25,083, drive-away and the Mitsubishi ASX ES next at $27,990, drive-away.

Despite a similar specification, the Kia Seltos Sport+ FWD is hamstrung on price as it sits a way up the price ladder at $38,890, drive-away, but comes with the longest servicing schedule.

Premium equipment for the Lux includes synthetic leather upholstery, an electric driver's seat, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and start, a 360-degree view camera system and rear parking sensors.

Other standard features include a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, four USB-A ports, a 12-volt socket, a 10.25-inch touchscreen multimedia system and (wired) Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

A fixed cargo cover and temporary spare tyre round out its features list. Not bad at all considering it's almost a base model but the usability of those features can be hit or miss.

While BYD has made its name in Australia as an all-electric brand it has always referred to itself as a 'new energy' company, and the Sealion 6 (and upcoming Shark ute) are why.

That’s because these feature BYD’s new 'Dual-Mode Intelligence' (DMi) powetrain - a hybrid system to you and me.

As mentioned above, the biggest difference between the Dynamic and Premium models is the powertrain, with two reasonably different systems.

The Dynamic is powered by a 78kW/135Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, paired with a 145kW/300Nm electric motor - making for a combined system output of 160kW/300Nm. Notably, this powertrain only drives the front wheels.

In contrast, the Premium has an all-wheel drive set-up, combining a turbocharged version of the petrol engine (good for 96kW/220Nm) with a pair of electric motors, one on the front axle and one on the rear to produce a combined output of 238kW and 550Nm.

Both models get the same 18.3kWh ‘Blade’ battery, which is BYD’s proprietary technology underpinning all of its models and is attracting attention from other brands.

For reference, the Outlander PHEV has a 20kWh battery, Nissan’s X-Trail e-Power has a 2.1kWh battery, while the more conventional RAV4 Hybrid has just a 6.5Ah battery.

The Jolion Lux has a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine that produces 105kW of power and 210Nm of torque.

The Lux is a 2WD and has a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission which isn’t always smooth with its gear changing but power is sufficient if you don't expect it to be zippy.

There are multiple modes to drive it in, including electric only, with the Dynamic able to go up to 92km on a single charge, while the Premium manages a claimed 81km.

However, it's important to note these are the NEDC standards and not the more real-world like WLTP,  so you may not achieve those in practice.

The claimed fuel consumption is an impressive 1.1L/100km for the Dynamic and 1.4L/100km for the Premium although again achieving those in the real world will take some effort.

With a 60-litre fuel tank BYD claims the Dynamic has a driving range of just over 1000km, while the Premium can manage around 960km.

It's also worth noting the Sealion 6 comes equipped with vehicle-to-load charging which means you can draw power from the batteries to run small electronic devices if you need to.

It’s a bonus feature that may or may not be of use, but is one of those things that may come in handy one day to get you through a camping trip or a BBQ at the park.

The Haval Jolion Lux has an official combined (urban/extra-urban) fuel cycle figure of 8.1L/100km and based on its 55L fuel tank, theoretical driving range is around 680km, which is respectable for a little SUV.

My real-world usage came in at 7.8L/100km after mostly open-road driving, with a smattering of urban stuff. Overall, it's a solid result.

We drove the Sealion 6 Dynamic and despite having the less powerful powertrain it feels good on the road. The DMi system offers good performance, with quiet acceleration off the mark and a good integration between the petrol engine and electric motors. We haven’t driven the Premium yet, so we can’t make any comment on how different it feels.

It’s hard to make a definitive call on the Sealion PHEV powertrain because, like every plug-in hybrid, its greatest strength relies on how the owner operates it.

If you don’t charge the battery every day or so, you’ll just end up lugging around a battery and electric motor for little benefit. However, if you do keep the battery topped up, you can do most of your urban commuting without needing to turn the petrol engine on, which should result in some very low fuel consumption figures.

The company clearly knows this, which is why BYD Australia is offering a complimentary home charger to the first 3000 customers who order a Sealion 6.

Not only will that encourage sales but it will also help owners become evangelists for PHEVs in the future, because they’ll have the best possible experience.

So, a large part of its strength or weakness rests on the owner’s behaviour and that’s something we can’t assess.

As for the rest of the driving experience, the ride comfort is fine. It can’t match the class-leaders for compliance or dynamics, but the Sealion feels pleasant to drive around the urban environment and on the freeway at speed.

Biggest criticism is the steering is very, very light. While that makes parking easier, it feels so light you get very little feedback from the front wheels so it can feel vague at times.

Overall the driving experience is best described as fine. It doesn’t have any major vices but neither does it set any new benchmarks. 

The Jolion's on-road experience is underwhelming and unsophisticated most of the time. It's strictly an A to B style car, which will work well for some people.

The power and its delivery are okay but this car doesn't get close to zippy and its well of performance feels decidedly shallow on the open road.

The engine whines loudly when trying to get up to speed and its gear changes can come a tad too swiftly, especially between first and third.

The accelerator and brakes are touchy, and until you get used to them the Jolion can feel a little jerky in the city. But the steering is on the right side of firm and that at least feels direct and responsive. 

Suspension is hard and you get all the bumps which also translates into a loud cabin. Your senses take a battering on a longer trip and kids in the back will ask you to repeat yourself.

The Jolion is redeemed somewhat by an excellent 360-degree view camera system but you miss out on front-parking sensors.

It’s small enough that it’s not hard to park and for an urban dweller that is a big plus as it's quite suitable for a dash to a busy shopping centre car park. 

The Jolion has a maximum five-star ANCAP rating from testing done in 2022 and has seven-airbags, including a front-centre bag. 

Standard safety equipment is good for the grade level and includes blind-spot monitoring, driver attention alert, tyre-pressure monitoring, forward collision warning, LED DRLs, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure alert, lane keeping aid, traffic sign recognition, an intelligent seatbelt warning, adaptive cruise control, a USB outlet near the interior mirror for a dashcam, a 360-degree camera view system and rear-parking sensors.

Despite featuring a robust safety list a running theme has emerged this week. Everything sounds good on paper but the execution is another matter.

Its not enough to just have all of these safety systems in place, they also have to work well for everyday driving. And some of the systems are annoying and intrusive.

There are lots of bings, bongs and chime alerts from the driver monitoring system, traffic sign recognition tech and lane keeping aids.

You also get nonsensical text boxes displayed on the multimedia screen asking non-binary (open) questions requiring a yes or no response.

For families, you get two ISOFIX child seat mounts and three top tethers across the back seat but two seats will fit best.

The Jolion has AEB (operational from 1.0 to 85km/h) including pedestrian, cyclist and back-over detection. It's usual to see this type of system operating from 4.0km/h, so that's excellent.

BYD is a small company but has partnered with mycar service centres to make maintaining your Sealion 6 easier. The Sealion is covered by BYD's six-year/150,000km warranty as well as its 10-year capped price servicing plan.

Service intervals are every 12 months/20,000km and prices range from $265 up to $1184 for the major eight year/160,000km tune up. Over the first five years, in keeping with most of its rivals, you’ll be paying $1648.

As I’ve written in previous BYD reviews, the biggest question mark hanging over the brand is arguably its long-term prospects. Quite simply, the brand is still too new to know how well it will perform on the used car market.

We also can’t tell you how it will hold up from a reliability point-of-view. We’re not suggesting there’s any doubt over its quality, but each car brand must prove itself reliable and dependable over time, and BYD hasn’t had that time yet.

The Jolion is offered with an excellent seven-year/unlimited km warranty.

There is a five-year capped priced servicing program and services average $310 which is mid-range for the class.

The first service is before 10,000km but thereafter, servicing intervals are at every 12-months or 15,000km, whichever occurs first.